daryll40

I noticed that our 2006 with 40K miles has a whiny tranny, especially under load (up Pittsburgh hills, with A/C). Never noticed this noise before. Car seems to run fine, however. Any suggestions? Still under 3 year CPO warranty for another year.

diverchris

Is the fluid level correct?

Rainbird

The transmission should not be whiny. Have Lexus check it out.

luvrxxx

Pick up six quarts of "T IV" automatic tranny fluid (ATF) at Toyota or Lexus dealer (about $6 a quart from Toyota/ $8 from Lexus)...

Get 5 or 6 aluminum ATF drain plug "crush washers" at Lexus if Toyota won't cross reference part number for those. Washer should be replaced, otherwise tranny will likely drip at plug no matter how tight (don't ask ha ha).

Recommend draining tranny at every oil change, so extra washers useful every two months or so. Have a little funnel that fits ATF dipstick/ fill tube to refill.

As an aside, believe T IV is Mobil1 synthetic ATF (arguably the best).


Warm-up LUV, shift through all gears, including reverse (to "move" fluid around);

Check tranny fluid level while warm & running to be certain not too high or low;

Raise RX on ramps (or be prepared to ease under tight space at front);

Slightly remove (yellow handled???) tranny dipstick enough to loosen o-ring seal;

Recall a a small removable black plastic panel under driver side for ATF drain access, otherwise remove mid panel ("engine underguard");

Remove big "hex" tranny drain plug on tranny pan, under front driver side... Be ready to catch fluid into container. I prefer clear or translucent graduated gallon pitchers because they're easy to get and it's easy to measure what came out (in this case, do a switcheroo when one gets almost full to catch the extra quart);

Measure what came out. Shouldn't be much more than five quarts from tranny pan (recall there's another seven quarts or so in torque converter, twelve total, but don't think that can be drained and don't agree with flushes). If five quarts of ATF replaced at every oil change, flushing shouldn't be necessary;

Put new washer on hex plug & button up;

Be sure to replace ATF. A little less than what's drained is better than more (particularly if more than five quarts);

Replace dipstick;

Double check your work, drive to warm-up and check ATF level again. Remember a little low is better than too high (to not blow out seals);

If leak at drain plug, give a slight nudge till leak stops;

Replace engine underguard when sure no leaks.


Also worth noting... 2WD has transfer case in front... AWD also has a rear differential (in rear). They both look similar and take about a quart of gear oil (prefer Mobil1 synthetic, forget what weight). If this/ these low will stress tranny.

Check front transfer case/ rear differential gear oil by cracking the top fill plug(s) with a big socket... They should be filled to top (hook pinky in there or a "u-bend" dipstick out of clean smooth coat hanger check level). A little should drip out if full, or at lease have some on pinky without hooking too far in.

Not only easy to overlook, but easy to replace... Do be sure to crack fill plugs first before draining (so you could refill after drained). Crack drain plug next (catch it)... Clean & replace plug... Put a plastic tube on gear oil bottle, place tube into top fill hole and SQUEEZE till oil oozes from top (fun)... Replace fill plug... Clean mess.

Seen front t-case leak at case seal, worth a look.


Hope this helps!

daryll40

Thanks but no thanks. I am not gonna change tranny fluid at every oil change.

mandyfig

CPO, take it in. Get it checked out. You might a failing tranny. Might as well get it changed.

lexus114

Are you sure it`s the trans? Could be your transfer case low in fluid, or the fluid needs to be changed.

RX330inFL

Talk about overkill.

Rainbird

I can see doing a transmission oil change every 30K, 60K, 90K etc. It is a waste of time and money to do it every 5K. BTW, transmission oil changes only apply to the RX330. The RX350 uses World Standard Transmission Fluid and does not need to be changed until at least 100K miles.

mandyfig

Do my tranny drain and fill between 25~30K miles, I start seeing the fluid not as pink anymore, time to do it.